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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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) SHARE 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) SHARE 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. ### 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 Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy 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. [SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON FACEBOOK] 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. Share Tweet 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. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser 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. Ready For Early Voting Early voting at polling locations began Oct. 19. In the last midterm elections in 2018, about 7,800 people voted in Newport. For this upcoming election there are 13,115 eligible voters.... City to Open Driftway Shoreline Access The Newport City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Oct. 12 to keep the Chestnut and Walnut Street driftways in the Point Street neighborhood free from cars and maintain an... Reed Delivers $100K for Adult Learning Center The Aquidneck Island Adult Learning Center recently received a warm welcome at its new location on Americas Cup Avenue in the form of a $100,000 federal earmark courtesy of U.S.... Door is Open to More If Regionalization Passes The possible regionalization of Middletown and Newport schools has attracted interest from other communities that might want to jump on board somewhere down the line. Middletown Town Council President Paul... 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." Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today 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. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. 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. Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. 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." Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 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. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest Business News, Economy News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 It's possible that the page is temporarily unavailable, has been moved, renamed, or no longer exists. Here are some suggestions to find what you are looking for: 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) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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." 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe 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. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... 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 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications 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 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications 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 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications 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 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications 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 Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Rumble 26 Sep 2022 Trump has been compared to Hitler before by these ignoramus politicians, in hopes that the masses will acknowledge it as well... CBS 2 New York 11 Aug 2021 With Kathy Hochul becoming governor, the face of power within New York will shift. Political strategists say it better reflects the.. Eurasia Review 14 Apr 2021 By Thalif Deen* The United Nations, along with the 193 diplomatic missions located in New York, have long been veritable.. CBS News 06 Apr 2021 The search is widening around the island of Reunion for aircraft debris. Searchers are looking for wreckage from Malaysia Airlines.. 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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. Share this: 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. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. (Image by (White House photo)) Details DMCA 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. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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 madeinusa (Image by aestheticlegal.com) Details DMCA 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? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. 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The business scopes of Intense Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@intenseresearch.comWeb: 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 The Goddard School Presents 8th Annual Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship To Exemplary Student 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/ http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/product-category/market-research-reports-education-industry/ 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 http://www.9dimengroup.com/report/57549/request-sample http://www.9dimengroup.com/market-analysis/global-thin-film-battery-battery-market-2016-industry.html 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 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2821 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/2821 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com 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 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3308 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3308 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com 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 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3484 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3484 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com 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 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=165056 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=165056 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 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-467 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-467 www.futuremarketinsights.com 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. http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b38a4613e854d9bb58716f5cb&id=d4af83f33a&e=6e332bf481 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 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-456 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-456 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/3d-nand-flash-memory-market 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 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-463 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-463 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/igzo-display-market 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 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-466 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-466 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 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-465 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-465 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/real-time-location-system-market 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 www.oti.ag - 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 http://www.briskinsights.com/report/radar-system-and-technology-market http://www.briskinsights.com/sample-request/124 http://www.briskinsights.com/ 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 www.futuremarketinsights.com 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 www.futuremarketinsights.com 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 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ 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 When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 photo provided Show More Show Less 2 of 3 photo provided Show More Show Less 3 of 3 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. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Immaculate Conception (c. 1505), by Piero di Cosimo (1462-1521) [public domain / [public domain / Wikimedia Commons *** (7-16-08) *** Here are some excerpts from my book, Catholic Church Fathers *** 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 MORE LOCAL HERO STORIES Palm Desert woman rushes across 215 traffic to save womans life Man honored for helping woman being attacked 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. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. : , 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. Get Our E-Newsletter - Pig World's best stories in your in-box twice a week See e-newsletter example Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy 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. *** Include a contact email address if you want a response *** Please tell us about the problem you are having... See your usage details You will also be sending us basic usage details to help us fix this problem. Details about your session Javascript: not enabled. Submit my Problem Please tell us about your problem before you click submit. Thank you for flagging this problem, we very much appreciate your time and helping us improve the site. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print 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) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print 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. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print 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. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print 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. Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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). ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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? ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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." Next on the To-Do List: Ikigai Many moons ago, I worked as a career counselor, first for a college and then for a nonprofit in a... Voters need a third option at the polls I ran for a public office a few years ago. After winning a battle with Genesee County Parks the NRA... Wendy Wolcott best choice for Mott College We have a very special candidate running for Mott Community College Board of Trustees in Wendy Wolcott. Mrs. Wolcott is... Smith and Goyette are not fine men I am responding to Tamara Carlones editorial regarding Davison School Board members Matthew Smith and Nicholas Goyette. I disagree with... 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. 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: Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110831/NY59180LOGO 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 http://www.prnewswire.com 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. 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. Contact Info: Mackenzie Gavel Tel: +1.516.624.2542 pr@abiresearch.com Related Links http://www.abiresearch.com 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 http://www.biosensors.com 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 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367121LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366793LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/CG47668LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150316/181852LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/NY45906LOGO 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 http://www.reportbuyer.com 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366353LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329613LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160309/342323LOGO 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: Waterborne Coatings Market by Resin (Acrylic, Polyester, Alkyd, Epoxy, Polyurethane, PTFE, PVDF, PVDC), by Application (Architectural, Automotive, General Industrial, Protective, Wood, Marine, Packaging, Coil), by Region - Global Forecast to 2020 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 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. Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets 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] 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150723/240961LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367078LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150723/240961LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140618/119400 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. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367207 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150521/217945LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366410LOGO 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] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366993 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121009/LA88943LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160217/334251LOGO 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. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366932 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150408/197347LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150408/197347LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110406/DC78673LOGO 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367162LOGO 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 http://www.miltonsecurity.com 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366534LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366535 "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 http://www.modobag.com 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]. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366835 SOURCE Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America Related Links http://www.ccfa.org "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] Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366804LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100111/LA35461LOGO SOURCE AMN Healthcare Related Links http://www.amnhealthcare.com 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366959LOGO SOURCE 360 Cloud Solutions Related Links http://www.360cloudsolutions.com 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. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/EasternStatePrisonvideo.mp4 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366609 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366610 SOURCE Eastern State Penitentiary Related Links http://www.EasternState.org 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] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367018 SOURCE JW Marriott New Orleans Related Links http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/msyjw-jw-marriott-new-orleans/ 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. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/FL34682LOGO SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.nexteraenergy.com 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. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366409 SOURCE Olympus Medical Systems Group Related Links http://www.medical.olympusamerica.com 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] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110920/MM71626LOGO SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Related Links http://www.broadridge.com 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 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141209/163423LOGO 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. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367058 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160210/331801LOGO 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) Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366941 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366942 "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 http://www.reportbuyer.com Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy "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] **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150604/220954 SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com 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 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367158LOGO 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 Related Links 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. ### 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. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. 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. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK 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 Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning eBrief. 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. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate 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. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, e21 delivers a short email that includes e21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the e21 Morning eBrief. Property details: ATTENTIONYOU ARE BIDDING ON THE DOWN PAYMENTPLEASE REVIEW THE ENTIRE LISTING THOROUGHLY Description: This is TOP NOTCH 2.5 Acres of vacant land right off Silver Valley Road in a nice section of Newberry Springs CA. This area is rich in agriculture, good soil, and plenty of underground water. The land has super easy access in any type of vehicle! See several nice and clear maps provided below, demonstrating what I just described. There is power on the adjacent lot approx 100 yards from lot line. ... Price: $ 119 Seller State of Residence: California Property Address: Collado Rd Zip/Postal Code: 92365 Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential Area Acreage (acres): 2.50 Location: 923**, Newberry Springs, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 2.50 Bindi Irwin enjoyed a mother-daughter outing with mom Terri Irwin this week. ADVERTISEMENT 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." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. SHARE Robert Levi Stevens 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute 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. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute 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." Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute 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. Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute 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. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... 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. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. 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. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. 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. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com 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 Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression 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. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join 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. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today 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." Click here to sign up for the TestTube Newsletter 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." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 James Tensuan/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 James Tensuan/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. 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. 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. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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 Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. 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Related News: October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses 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. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses 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. Click here to read the rest By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree 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: Follow us on LinkedIn: 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 . Blog: Twitter: Facebook: Image Available: Image Available: 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 Back 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 Back 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 Back 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 Back 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 Back 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 Back 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 sports Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea 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. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. 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The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. 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 125/090/TRA Currently Reading 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 Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout 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 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial 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. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial 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. READ MORE 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. This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. 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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. 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 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. READ MORE: * Fairytale chateau at Waitoki fails to sell at auction * Auckland Mediterranean-style 'castle' for sale * Richina buys heritage-listed Waitaki Valley 'castle' * Waitoki fairytale home sold to follow dreams * 12th century Tuscan castle has 115 bedrooms 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. Sign up to receive our new evening newsletter Two Minutes of Stuff the news, but different. 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. READ MORE: * Jetstar declines to let transgender woman fly * Pet peeves on a plane * Customers cross at being kicked off flight to accommodate school 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." *Comments have now closed on this story* 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 Create your own infographics BN/IMPOUND FISCAL BUDGET 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. SHARE 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) SHARE 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) SHARE 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "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 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. The motive of the site is explained in its name. Break The Security provides all kind of hacking stuff such as hacking news, hacking attacks and hacking tutorials. It also has a different kind of useful courses that can make you a certified hacker. This site is very helpful if you are looking to choose the security and field of hacking and cracking. 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. This is a popular website that provides security news and activities from the hacker underground. You can get huge hacking articles about Microsoft, Apple, Linux, Programming and much more. This site also has a forum community that allows users to discuss hacking tips. 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. Like us on Facebook and scroll down to share your comment 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 SHARE 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. Beer Bash, farmers market and more in this week's local dining news We're bringing you Tri-State restaurant happenings and food news you need to know. Check out this weekly feature to keep up to date on the latest. 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. When we think of the royal family, we dont often think of financial struggles. After all, King Charles III just This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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 _______________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. ______________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) __________________________________________ to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter 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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"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. --- 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. --- 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. --- 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. --- 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. --- 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... Supporting animals As a trained Project Wildlife Native Songbird Rehabilitator, my experience raising orphaned and injured songbirds and returning them to the... 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. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 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. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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, This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. 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." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. 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 Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. 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 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. 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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [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 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). 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. Advertisement 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 Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook) 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 TICKET DETAILS Ordering: Via uwclf2016.vivaticket.it Prices: Main stand and opposite side Individual ticket: 10 (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): 8 per person (inc 1 for Best Union) Disabled: free of charge including accompanying person Behind goals 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) Disabled: free of charge including accompanying person 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). ol 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. ol 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." ol 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. iy 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: All the latest Uttoxeter news Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Page Content 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. MORE 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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... Church News October 13, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Natures Therapy The pine tree with its solemn dignity lifts its branches to the sky as if to give... 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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." Search Keywords: Short link: 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. Search Keywords: Short link: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Bernie Luskin is interim chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. STOCK PHOTO SHARE 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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." Search Keywords: Short link: 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. SHARE 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. SHARE 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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." Search Keywords: Short link: remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Search Keywords: Short link: 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 Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. 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. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. 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. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/05/2016 (2357 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. Follow @tpedwell on Twitter Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/05/2016 (2356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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? Email Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter Relevant real estate news. Actionable market intelligence. Right to your inbox every week. Go Thank you for your interest! You will now be receiving our Weekly Real Estate Newsletter. Real Estate Listings Showcase 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. Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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) The 42-year-old is all set to assume the position left vacant by Liz Truss. This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company. As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism. We hope you are equally as excited as us. This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers. Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited. In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy. Happy shootin' my friends! Buying Guides: Firearms Firearm Accessories Ammunition Gun Safes Scopes & Optics Hunting Air Rifles Best AR-15 Best AR 15 Scope Best Hunting Rifle Best Gun Safe Best AK 47 Best AR 10 Best Glock Triggers Best Glock Best Home Defense Shotgun 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. Story continues 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. Story continues "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. 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) 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 As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ 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. Story continues 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." Story continues - 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. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de 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) #minor Gov't to lower age of criminal responsibility by 1 year to 13 The government decided to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility by one year to 13 to cope with an increasing number of serious crimes committed by juveniles, sources sai... #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 [] 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 [] 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 [] 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 [] 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, [] 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 [] 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. advertisement "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. advertisement 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. advertisement 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. advertisement 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. advertisement 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." advertisement 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."
Facebook/Township of Clinton Division of Fire
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. Dodo Shows Dodo Heroes Woman Devotes Her Life To The Stray Dogs Of Bali "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. Dodo Shows Wild Hearts Guy And Wild Shark Have Been Best Friends For Decades 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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 Read more about: SHARE: 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 Read more about: SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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 Read more about: SHARE: 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 SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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 Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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 SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. SHARE: 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. Read more about: SHARE: 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 SHARE: 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 SHARE: 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 For stories, features such as Date Lab, Gene Weingarten and more, visit WP Magazine. Follow the Magazine on Twitter. Like us on Facebook. Email us at wpmagazine@washpost.com. 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. Get updates on your area delivered via e-mail 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. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Fact Check: Do existing federal civil rights laws already protect transgender people? The history of women in politics District of Columbia statehood supporters push for convention 10 fascinating facts about President Harry S. Truman 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. NOW WATCH: The ultimate guide to tipping in almost any situation More From Business Insider 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 Related Articles: 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 Story continues 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. Additional Research: Story continues Body Style: Abstract: 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. Year: 2 017 Check this if this is NOT an Articles Listing Page: New or Used: New Display Article Date?: Fuel: 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 >> 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 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 Related Articles: 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.) Story continues 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. Editor's Recommendations 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. 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 CROWN HLDGS INC (CCK): Free Stock Analysis Report SONOCO PRODUCTS (SON): Free Stock Analysis Report AVERY DENNISON (AVY): Free Stock Analysis Report BERRY PLASTICS (BERY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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. 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 BOSTON SCIENTIF (BSX): Free Stock Analysis Report LEMAITRE VASCLR (LMAT): Free Stock Analysis Report ORASURE TECH (OSUR): Free Stock Analysis Report NUVASIVE INC (NUVA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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. Story continues 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. Story continues 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. Related Articles 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 Story continues 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. Related Articles 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). Related stories Cannes Film Review: 'Staying Vertical' 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. Story continues 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. Related stories Jodie Foster: Studios Are Scared of Women, Says Blockbuster Culture Harms Movie Industry Noomi Rapace to Star in Science-Fiction Thriller 'Boy' (EXCLUSIVE) Alice Rohrwacher Named Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jaeger-LeCoultre Filmmaker in Residence (EXCLUSIVE) 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). Story continues 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. Related stories Jamie Dornan-Cillian Murphy War Drama 'Anthropoid' Sold to Bleecker Street Cannes: Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland to Topline Paolo Virzi's 'The Leisure Seeker' Cannes: Fortissimo Bites Into Child Slavery Documentary 'Chocolate' 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. Related stories Cannes Film Review: 'Money Monster' Cannes Film Review: 'Staying Vertical' 'God of War' Rules With Cannes Buyers 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. Story continues "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. Related stories Cannes Film Review: 'Money Monster' Cannes Film Review: 'Staying Vertical' 'God of War' Rules With Cannes Buyers 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) Story continues 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." Story continues 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? Story continues 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